Bin ice delivery mechanism

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for storing chunk or cube ice and for delivering ice on command in which a plurality of elongated members mounted for staggered reciprocating movement in side by side relationship at the bottom of a generally rectangular storage bin having sides sloping slightly outwardly from top to bottom of the reservoir are provided with serrated upper surfaces inclined downwardly from the back of the reservoir toward a discharge area at the front and are adapted to be driven to discharge ice from said bin.

United States Patent Neumann BIN ICE DELIVERY MECHANISM [75] Inventor:Charles G. Neumann, Palatine, 111. [73] Assignee: Reynolds ProductsInc.,

Schaurnburg, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 21, 1973 {21] Appl. No.: 417,875

[52] US. Cl. 222/199; 62/344; 198/219; 221/200 [51] Int. Cl. F25c 5/18[58] Field of Search 62/344; 198/219; 221/199-204, 268; 222/221, 199,244

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 220,336 10/1879 Brown198/219 1,442,295 1/1923 Porter 1. 198/219 July 1, 1975 1,852,392 4/1932Axelson 221/204 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves AssistantExaminerThomas E. Kocovsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shenier & OConnor[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for storing chunk or cube ice and for deliveringice on command in which a plurality of elongated members mounted forstaggered reciprocating movement in side by side relationship at thebottom of a generally rectangular storage bin having sides slopingslightly outwardly from top to bottom of the reservoir are provided withserrated upper surfaces inclined downwardly from the back of thereservoir toward a discharge area at the front and are adapted to bedriven to discharge ice from said bin.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BIN ICE DELIVERY MECHANISM BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Generally in the prior art at a soda fountain or the likestored chunk or cube ice is gathered manually by scooping it from a bineither directly with the glass or other container in which they were tobe finally placed or via some intermediate device such as a scoop.Insertion of human hands and external devices into an icefilled bin isinconvenient and is unsanitary. The open bin itself is unsanitary.

Automatic ice makers known in the art have small capacities. Automaticice storage and dispensing de vices of the prior art of relatively largecapacity have certain limitations and disadvantages. Most of themrequire auxiliary agitators located in the bin above the delivery area.These auxiliary agitators add to the complexity of the structure and tothe power requirement of the machine. Some ice storage and deliverymechanisms incorporate inwardly tapering sides leading to a deliveryauger or the like. Melting and resolidification of ice chunks in such amachine result in bridging of a mass of ice between the sides over theauger. Power requirements of machines of the prior art are high. Theyare vulnerable to mechanical failure.

It has further been suggested that stored cubes of ice be fed down aninclined plane under the action of a vibrator located below the plane.Such a structure does not solve the problem of separating ice pieceswhich have joined together. In order to operate satisfactorily it mustbe located in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator or the like. Themechanical arrangements employed in ice dispensers of the prior art arebulky and are not suited for use as components of automatic drinkdispensing apparatus where space is limited.

I have invented an ice storage and delivery mechanism which overcomesthe defects of ice storage and delivery systems discussed hereinabove.My mechanism does not require auxiliary agitators. It is not susceptibleto jamming. Its power requirement is relatively low. It is compact,simple and inexpensive to construct.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of my invention is to provide an icestorage and delivery mechanism which overcomes the disadvantages ofsystems of the prior art.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ice delivery mechanismwhich does not require auxiliary agitators.

A further object of my invention is to provide an ice storage anddelivery mechanism having a relatively low power requirement.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an ice deliverymechanism which is not susceptible to jamming.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide an ice deliverymechanism which is compact.

Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent from thefollowing description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings whichform part of the instant specification and which are to be read inconjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used toindicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of my bin type ice delivery mechanism withthe left side wall removed.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the drive apparatus of my bin type icedelivery mechanism with the front wall removed and with parts brokenaway and with other parts in section.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the drive apparatus of my bin type icedelivery mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of my bin type icedelivery mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,the bin, indicated generally by reference character 10, has side walls12 and 14, a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, a floor 20, and an open top22. The front and rear walls 18 and 20 are slightly inwardly directedfrom bottom to top of the bin to inhibit bridging. Floor 20 includes acentral well portion 21 for collecting melt down and generally levelfront and rear portions 23 and 24 which support a plurality of elongatedice agitating and delivering members 26 the upper surface of each ofwhich slopes downwardly from back to front of the dispensing mechanism10.

The sloping upper surface of each of the members 26 is formed with aplurality of teeth 28 so shaped as to promote unidirectional flow ofstored ice toward the front ofthe delivery mechanism 10. l form the rearportion of each member 26 with a rectangular recess 36 which receives aneccentric 38. Preferably to facilitate assembly and disassembly forcleaning I provide recesses 36 which are open at the bottom. as shown inFIG. 4. l mount the eccentrics 38 on a shaft 40 having a hex agonalcross section. For this purpose I provide each of the eccentrics with anoffset opening 39 having flat sides for engaging diametrically oppositeflats on shaft 40. I arrange the eccentrics in pairs across the width ofthe machine with the eccentrics of each pair being l out of phase.Moreover, each pair of eccentrics is arranged so as to be 60 out ofphase with the adjacent pair. This is readily achieved by placing eacheccentric on the shaft 40 with the flat sides of the opening 39 inengagement with the proper flats of shaft 40. With all of the eccentrics38 on a common shaft the result of the arrangement just described willreadily be apparent from the relative positions of the bars 26 in FIG.3. This arrangement ensures uniform ice delivery and a slower icedelivery in ounces per second when required.

In the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawings the commonshaft 40 is driven by a motor 42 carried by a bracket 44. It willreadily be appreciated that alternative arrangements are contemplated.For exam ple, I may provide two delivery stations on one bin. In such anarrangement one motor would be used to drive the eight bars at the leftand another motor would drive the eight bars to the right. The motorscould be energized either individually or simultaneously.

I provide my machine with means for controlling the movement of ice fromthe storage area over the bars 26 to the delivery chute 52. In theparticular embodiment illustrated in the drawings I attach a pluralityof resilient fingers 48 formed from rubber or the like to the front wallof the cabinet by any suitable means such as screws.

The top 22 of the bin ice delivery mechanism 10 is provided with a cover58 which. when removed, provides access to the bin storage area 50 forloading. The cover 58 may be provided with a handle for complete removalor may be slid away in a conventional track or attached by hinges andswung upward.

When the bin ice delivery motor 42 is energized. it drives the shaft 40which in turn causes the series ofeccentrics 38 to rotate with the shaft40. The rectangular openings 36 at the rear of the dispensing members 26in which the eccentrics are disposed are of a width approximately equalto the diameter of the eccentrics and of a height greater than thediameter of the circular locus of the outermost path of travel of theeccentrics. As shown in FIG. 4, the eccentric 38 is closely confined bythe right and left sides 60 and 62 respectively of the rectangularopening 36 but is not confined by the upper edge 64. As a result of thisarrangement. rotation of the eccentric 38 about the shaft 40 causes thedispensing members 26 to reciprocate horizontally.

As is pointed out hereinabove the eccentrics 38 are arranged in pairs ofadjacent eccentrics across the machine with the eccentrics of a pairbeing 180 out of phase. Moreover. each pair of eccentrics is 60 out ofphase with the adjacent pair.

In operation the cover 58 is removed and ice is fed into the open top 22either manually or by automatic apparatus such as an ice making machine.The ice is stored in the bin storage area 50 which may be cooledexternally by any conventional refrigeration apparatus. When a quantityof ice is desired from the bin mechanism 10. a switch 70 is closedthereby activating the motor 42. As the motor 42 rotates the shaft 40causes the eccentrics 38 to drive members 26. The dispensing members 26reciprocate in a horizontal direction on floor 20. The teeth 28 on themembers 26 force the ice pieces in contact with them toward the front ofthe bin mechanism 10, past the fingers 48 and through the delivery chute52 to the appropriate waiting receptacle.

Ice may be fed into the bin either manually or directly from an icemaking machine. The delivery mech anism 10 may be energized manually todispense ice into a container on command or it may operate automaticallyin conjunction with another device such as a cold drink machine. Myinvention may serve as a component of an ice-making machine and bejoined with refrigeration apparatus to maintain the bin 10 at freezingtemperatures.

It will be seen that l have accomplished the objects of my invention. lhave provided a bin ice storage and delivery system which overcomes thedefects of storage and delivery systems of the prior art. My system doesnot require auxiliary agitators. It is not susceptible to jamming. itspower requirement is relatively low. It is simple and compact.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of myclaims. it is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of my claims without departing from the spiritof my invention. lt is. therefore. to be understood that my invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention. what l claim is:

1. Apparatus for storing a supply of ice in pieces and for deliveringpieces of ice from said supply including in combination. a generallyrectangular container for holding a supply of ice in pieces, saidcontainer having a front wall and a back wall, each of said front andback walls being slightly inwardly directed from the bottom thereof tothe top thereof. said container having a bottom. said container formedwith a delivery opening adjacent to said bottom. a plurality of icedelivery members. means mounting said members on said bottom formovement toward and away from said delivery opening. and means fordriving said members to move pieces of ice from said supply toward saiddelivery opening.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said members are mounted forreciprocating movement.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said drive means reciprocates saidmembers in out-of-phase relationship.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said members are arranged in pairsacross said machine and in which the members of a pair are reciprocatedin out-ofphase relationship.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which each of said members has an uppersurface inclined downwardly from a location remote from said deliveryopening to a location adjacent to said delivery opening.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 in which each of said members is formed withteeth in the upper surface thereof.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 including spring fingers between saiddelivery area and the remainder of said container.

8. Apparatus for storing a supply of ice in pieces and for deliveringpieces of ice from said supply including in combination. a container forholding said supply of ice in pieces, said container having a front anda back and a bottom provided with a flat generally horizontally disposedsurface portion, said container front being formed with a deliveryopening adjacent to said bottom. a plurality of ice delivery members,each of said members being formed with an undersurface received forsliding movement on said flat bottom surface portion. said members beingarranged in side by side relationship across said bottom forreciprocating movement in a direction from front to back of saidcontainer. means for reciprocating said members to move pieces of icefrom said supply toward said delivery opening and means for removingmelt down from said supply from said bottom.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 in which said melt down removing meanscomprises means forming a well portion in said bottom.

10. Apparatus as in claim 8 in which said front and rear walls areinclined slightly inwardly from top to bottom thereof.

11. Apparatus as in claim 8 in which each of said members has an uppersurface inclined downwardly from the back toward the front of saidcontainer.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11 in which each of said members is formedwith teeth in the upper surface thereof.

13. Apparatus for storing supply of ice in pieces and for deliveringpieces of ice from said supply including in combination. a generallyrectangular container having a bottom and a front wall and a rear walland side walls for holding a supply of ice in pieces. a delivery areaadjacent to said front wall. a delivery outlet in said area. a pluralityof elongated ice delivery members. means mounting said members inside-by-side relationship over substantially the entire distance betweensaid side walls with the members extending from adjacent to said rearwall toward said delivery area and for limited reciprocating movement inthe direction of the length of the members whereby said members form thesupsaid pairs in 1 out-of-phase relationship and reciprocating adjacentpairs in 60 out-of-phase relationship.

l4. Apparatus as in claim 13 in which said reciprocating means comprisesa shaft having a hexagonal cross section and eccentrics having openingswith flat sides for engaging said shaft.

1. Apparatus for storing a supply of ice in pieces and for deliveringpieces of ice from said supply including in combination, a generallyrectangular container for holding a supply of ice in pieces, saidcontainer having a front wall and a back wall, each of said front andback walls being slightly inwardly directed from the bottom thereof tothe top thereof, said container having a bottom, said container formedwith a delivery opening adjacent to said bottom, a plurality of icedelivery members, means mounting said members on said bottom formovement toward and away from said delivery opening, and means fordriving said members to move pieces of ice from said supply toward saiddelivery opening.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said members aremounted for reciprocating movement.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in whichsaid drive means reciprocates said members in out-of-phase relationship.4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said members are arranged in pairsacross said machine and in which the members of a pair are reciprocatedin 180* out-of-phase relationship.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 in whicheach of saId members has an upper surface inclined downwardly from alocation remote from said delivery opening to a location adjacent tosaid delivery opening.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 in which each of saidmembers is formed with teeth in the upper surface thereof.
 7. Apparatusas in claim 1 including spring fingers between said delivery area andthe remainder of said container.
 8. Apparatus for storing a supply ofice in pieces and for delivering pieces of ice from said supplyincluding in combination, a container for holding said supply of ice inpieces, said container having a front and a back and a bottom providedwith a flat generally horizontally disposed surface portion, saidcontainer front being formed with a delivery opening adjacent to saidbottom, a plurality of ice delivery members, each of said members beingformed with an undersurface received for sliding movement on said flatbottom surface portion, said members being arranged in side by siderelationship across said bottom for reciprocating movement in adirection from front to back of said container, means for reciprocatingsaid members to move pieces of ice from said supply toward said deliveryopening and means for removing melt down from said supply from saidbottom.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8 in which said melt down removingmeans comprises means forming a well portion in said bottom. 10.Apparatus as in claim 8 in which said front and rear walls are inclinedslightly inwardly from top to bottom thereof.
 11. Apparatus as in claim8 in which each of said members has an upper surface inclined downwardlyfrom the back toward the front of said container.
 12. Apparatus as inclaim 11 in which each of said members is formed with teeth in the uppersurface thereof.
 13. Apparatus for storing supply of ice in pieces andfor delivering pieces of ice from said supply including in combination,a generally rectangular container having a bottom and a front wall and arear wall and side walls for holding a supply of ice in pieces, adelivery area adjacent to said front wall, a delivery outlet in saidarea, a plurality of elongated ice delivery members, means mounting saidmembers in side-by-side relationship over substantially the entiredistance between said side walls with the members extending fromadjacent to said rear wall toward said delivery area and for limitedreciprocating movement in the direction of the length of the memberswhereby said members form the support for said supply, each of saidmembers having a toothed upper surface inclined downwardly toward saidbottom in a direction from said rear wall toward said front wall, andmeans for reciprocating adjacent ones of said members in out-of-phaserelationship, said members being arranged in pairs across said machine,said reciprocating means reciprocating the members of said pairs in 180*out-of-phase relationship and reciprocating adjacent pairs in 60*out-of-phase relationship.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 13 in which saidreciprocating means comprises a shaft having a hexagonal cross sectionand eccentrics having openings with flat sides for engaging said shaft.